Storms in Teacups
We recently had a studio / gallery meeting with our studio members. As with all these meetings, getting 22 people in the same room on the same day is difficult but we try and have as many as possible to make sure everyone knows what is going on, to bat out ideas and update.
In the meeting we introduced the future gallery plans and sponsorship idea. I sent through an email as well with all the info to our members.
One member who wasn’t in the meeting sent an email that questioned us and our ‘profit drive’ and wanted to see our finances (do feel free to be our accountant Mister )
The complaint although slightly wounding is actually hilarious as it came obviously from complete ignorance of what we have been striving towards for the last 6months. I dont think he has even looked at our website or newsletter. Very strange too that you complain without educating yourself about the organisation first and after 6 months of actual being an entity with plenty of meetings along the way.Fair enough to have questions and want to know more. But that was not the gist of the email.
There was a query over accessibility to studio spaces too which never has been and never will be an issue.
The benefits of having Core Gallery outweigh the possible drawbacks and here is some feedback from other members which I publish here as it is far more eloquent than me ranting .
1. ‘ Please be assured that studio members are the key to the success of our cooperative and the birth of Core Gallery is not aimed to take anything away from you, rather give you further opportunities and have a good mix to ensure continuing survival and success.’
2. ‘I just want to point out that Core Gallery is something that we at Cor Blimey Arts have been aspiring to for a few years now.
It’s a positive exposure into the contemporary Art scene, not just around Deptford, but to a wider stage.
This can be confirmed by the number of re-nowned Artists and Curators that have been through our doors and the growing number of attendance from the general public.
We (as there have been several of us working VOLUNTARILY) have put in a lot of hard work to make the space (incorporating Cor Blimey Arts members) visible and into a serious Arts Venue. Cor Gallery is NOT a profit making venture and is still very much part of Cor Blimey Arts, which is a registered charity.
Nothing has changed in the space in terms of accessibility or cost incurred since Core Gallery was set up.
In the past, whenever there was a show up or music events (mostly our own) we still had to be very aware and sensitive to what was going on around us in terms of lighting noise etc, no different to what is happening now.
Core Gallery has been open to everyone to be part of from the outset, It’s up to the individual to decide how much or little they want to be part of this.
Along with myself I think many of the CBA members have experienced the benefits of being involved in such a prolific proactive working environment.’
To work towards making the gallery sustainable is essential. It is a long term goal and a sensible ambition otherwise we wont be able to carry on forever, no matter how passionate we are.
So now I need to set out a list of all the positive benefits to show our members, just in case it is required
Nevermind . It shall be a good evaluation for ourselves to see how much we have achieved and how we wish to move forward.
